You’ll find Freemanville’s remains near Port Orange, Florida, where John Milton Hawks established a settlement for 500 freed slaves in 1866. The community thrived briefly around a sawmill operation, growing to 1,500 residents before financial troubles caused its decline. Today, the ghost town’s legacy lives on through the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Gadsden Cemetery, and a state historic marker. The settlement’s fascinating story of freedom, resilience, and survival awaits discovery.
Key Takeaways
- Freeman (Freemanville) transformed from a thriving community of 1,500 freed slaves to a ghost town after its sawmill collapsed in 1867.
- The population dramatically declined to just 142 adults when the Florida Land & Lumber Company’s sawmill operations failed.
- Originally established in 1866 by John Milton Hawks, the settlement’s economic downfall began when a boat carrying essential equipment sank.
- Today, only historic markers, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, and Gadsden Cemetery remain as evidence of the once-bustling African-American community.
- The ghost town’s story is preserved through oral histories, with original settlement locations marked by native plants and cedar trees.
Origins of Freemanville’s Post-Civil War Settlement
After the Civil War, John Milton Hawks, a former Union Army surgeon and abolitionist, spearheaded the establishment of Freemanville by bringing approximately 500 freed slaves from South Carolina to Florida in 1866.
Many of these settlers had served in the United States Colored Army, demonstrating their commitment to freedom and community resilience.
Former United States Colored Army soldiers built new lives in Freemanville, proving their dedication to liberty and strong community bonds.
The Florida Land & Lumber Company provided initial employment through its sawmill operations, while the U.S. Freedmen’s Bureau facilitated the arrival of an additional 1,000 freed individuals within six months.
You’ll find that these early settlers received deeded land, establishing one of the first African-American land-owning communities in Volusia County.
This foundation allowed them to build essential social structures, including churches and schools, creating a self-sustaining settlement that would shape Port Orange’s history.
The settlers constructed homes using local materials, with palmetto thatch serving as a primary building component for their dwellings.
By 1870, the thriving community had grown to include 250 residents, marking a significant milestone in its development.
The Rise and Fall of the Sawmill Enterprise
While the promise of economic opportunity drew hundreds of freed slaves to Hawks’s sawmill enterprise in 1865, the venture’s ambitious scale would ultimately prove its undoing.
The sawmill operations, established to employ Black Union soldiers and their families, struggled from the start with limited Freedmen’s Bureau support and fragile logistics.
Much like other sawmill towns of the era, the enterprise focused on processing cypress trees transported by rail to the mill site.
A devastating blow came in 1866 when a boat carrying essential equipment and thousands of silver dollars sank, crippling the business’s financial foundation.
These economic challenges, coupled with reports of a treasurer’s theft, forced the operation to close.
You’d have witnessed a dramatic population decline from 1,500 to just 142 adults by 1867, as workers dispersed inland or relocated to Port Orange.
Many survivors adapted by turning to farming, fishing, and seasonal work, establishing what would become known as Freemanville, with dirt roads remaining a defining feature until the 1970s.
Daily Life and Survival in Early Freemanville
Following the sawmill’s collapse in 1866, life in early Freemanville became a demonstration of human resilience and adaptability.
You’ll find that the community’s resourcefulness strategies centered on maximizing available natural resources and maintaining strong community cohesion despite dwindling numbers.
Many of these early settlers were Union Army veterans who brought valuable skills and leadership to the community.
- Residents turned to farming the fertile soil near Halifax River for sustenance.
- Fishing provided both food security and trading opportunities.
- Orange grove labor became a vital source of employment.
- Mount Moriah Baptist Church served as the community’s spiritual anchor.
- Informal support networks helped families survive economic hardships.
With the population dropping from 500 to just 142 adults by 1867, you’d witness how the remaining settlers adapted through diversified labor and self-reliance.
They’d sustain their community through farming, fishing, and grove work, showing remarkable determination in the face of limited institutional support.
Similar to the once-bustling Hampton Springs Hotel in Taylor County, the community demonstrated that even thriving establishments could face dramatic changes in fortune.
Legacy Sites and Historical Landmarks
Today’s visitors to Freemanville can explore several significant historical landmarks that preserve the community’s remarkable legacy.
You’ll find a state historic marker at 3431 Ridgewood Avenue, revealed in 2003 as part of the Black Heritage Trail. Mt. Moriah Baptist Church serves as a central hub for community gatherings and cultural heritage events, including the annual Freemanville Day celebrations each February. The community established itself in 1867 after emancipation.
Near the church stands a rusty water pump, one of the few remaining physical relics. A hand-pump water system remains functional today, providing insight into early infrastructure.
The historic Gadsden Cemetery contains graves of three Black Union soldiers, with Alexander Avenue named in their honor.
The brave service of Black Union soldiers is commemorated at Gadsden Cemetery, their legacy living on through Alexander Avenue.
While many original structures have vanished, native plants like wild coontie and cedar trees still mark burial sites, reflecting the innovative ways early settlers preserved their heritage.
Preserving Stories Through Oral History
Because written records from Freemanville’s early days remain scarce, oral traditions and word-of-mouth stories form the foundation of our historical knowledge about this remarkable African-American settlement.
Through community gatherings at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and local presentations, you’ll discover how residents have preserved their heritage across generations.
Key stories that survive through oral traditions include:
- The 1866 sawmill failure when a supply boat carrying equipment sank
- Tales of “Miss Baby” shooting rattlesnakes and daily life in the settlement
- Accounts of Black Union soldiers buried with wooden markers
- Stories of residents working in orange groves and farming to survive
- Memories of important locations like Valley Street and Settlement Road
These oral histories keep Freemanville’s legacy alive despite the disappearance of physical landmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happened to the Descendants Who Stayed in Freemanville Until Recent Times?
You’ll find descendant experiences reflect community resilience through farming, fishing, and orange grove work, while maintaining cultural ties through Mt. Moriah Baptist Church gatherings, though their numbers have dwindled considerably.
Were There Any Schools or Educational Facilities Established in Freemanville?
You’ll find that Freemanville’s main education center was established by 1910, building on earlier efforts like Esther Hawks’ integrated school from 1866. The school served as both an educational and community hub.
Did Freemanville Residents Face Racial Violence or Discrimination From Neighboring Communities?
While direct records are limited, you’ll find Freemanville residents likely faced significant racial tensions and discriminatory practices common to Florida’s Jim Crow era, as neighboring communities enforced segregation and social restrictions.
What Specific Crops Did Freemanville Farmers Grow Besides Oranges?
You’ll find Freemanville’s farmers were masters of crop rotation, growing an amazing variety of pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, peas, beans, and pineapples to maintain agricultural diversity alongside their citrus groves.
Did Any Other Businesses Attempt to Establish Themselves After the Sawmill Failed?
You’ll find that after the sawmill failed, businesses like boardinghouses, small shops, and churches emerged through community efforts. The railroad’s arrival also sparked new commercial ventures by 1880s local entrepreneurs.
References
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTD7T4je6y4
- http://www.floridahistorynetwork.com/blog—the-ghost-settlement-of-freemanville.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6Q0BQ5j8M0
- https://www.florida-backroads-travel.com/ac-freeman-house.html
- https://volusiahistory.wordpress.com/tag/freemanville/
- https://volusiahistory.wordpress.com/2013/11/06/freemanville-volusias-1st-african-american-community/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemanville
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=45453
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAu5kj5Q5uo
- http://www.texasescapes.com/EastTexasTowns/Leggett-Texas.htm
